, 1887-05-05
OUR FOREI0N SERVICE.

I
OUR FOREIoN SERVICE.
The diplomatic and consular ser.
vice of the United States has never
received the fair and generous con.
sideration which its Importance
merits. The policy respecting 1t has
always been narrow and illiberal,
contrasting strongly with that pur-
sued by other great commercial ma
tions. There have always been men
Of influence in congress and else
where to decry it as for the most
part an expensive luxury, and in
stead Of its being made an inviting
and honorable field of labor for the
best abilityOf the country, it h Is gen.
orally been parcelled out to antiquat-
ed or shelved politicians. This was
especially the case before the war,
and no very earnest effort in
the direction of improvement
was made for many years af-
ter. The public mind was so entire
ly pre-occupied with domestic affairs
during the first twelve years follow
ing the war that only perfunetory
attention was bestowed upon our
foreign service. During this period
the diplomatic and consular service
declined to probably lower plane
than ever before, One of the most
meritOriOus features of the Hayes
was the effort, large.
ly successful, to improve the efficl-
ency of this service, and its standard
since has been comparatively good,
though, still inferior to that of
the other great nations. An effort
was made at the last session
of congress to still further liberalize
the policy of the government with
respect to this service, but it en-
countered an opposition which pre-.
vented full success. The great ma
jority of our foreign Representatives
are inadequately paid, and it is no
justification of the penurious policy
that has been persued to say that
there are always men to be found
very willing to accept these posi-
tions. A rich and prosperous coun-
try should not deal with its servants
abroad upon any such niggardly
basis. Many of our foreign repre-
sentatives are compelled, in order to
maintain their official respectability,
to draw largely upon their private
fortunes, and those who have not
this resource are thrown into un-
enviable comparison with the better
paid representatives of other nations.
This is neither to our credit nor to
our advantage. The consequence is
we'll stated by the American minis.
ter to Sweden and Norway, and in
a recent interview he said: "The
tendency of our foreign service is to
restrict representation to men of
wealth, and men who are not in the
young vigor Of life. Only those who
are very wealthy and can afford to
spend twice or thrice their salary,
or are two old to care
for the activities of life, and are OBJ
livious OF the loss of business identi-
ty in their native country, can afford
to enter the diplomatic service"
1t is not men of this stamp that are
likely to make the most careful and
efficient foreign representatives.
Wealthy men who 60 abroad for the
honor and enjoyment will not give
very close attention to the details of
their duties, and old men cannot do
SO. The government should invite
to the foreign service men OF the
highest intelligence, who have also
the vigor and energy to perform all
their duties promptly and skillfully,
and they should be compensated
with reasonable liberality. 1t is not
to be doubted that under any cir.
the demand for
these foreign positions will al
ways exceed the supply, but this Is
no excuse for penny wise policy,
the effect of which is too narrow TO
the government the opportunities
for the most desirable selections.
AJTJIoIrCJJ Mr. f,horlas Nnnrh aau